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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-16714344

Two hostages rescued.
Nine pirates shot.
Several more captured.
No US casualties.

Good job!

The U.S. special forces of different branches are renowned for their rivalary. We can now conclude with certainty that SEALs are the top of the heap.

olympia wrote:The U.S. special forces of different branches are renowned for their rivalary. We can now conclude with certainty that SEALs are the top of the heap.

Good Job Paul Calvert!

And apparently they've changed their name for at least the third time now.

Seaward wrote:And apparently they've changed their name for at least the third time now.

Okay...I'll do the Frazzled response.

Obama's cuts to the military are so deep that they have to keep changing the name of the one, single special ops force we have left after all the military budgetary cuts in order for it to look like we still have a military left.

olympia wrote:The U.S. special forces of different branches are renowned for their rivalary. We can now conclude with certainty that SEALs are the top of the heap.

That's long been known over here! Thing is, soldiers like to bs and all of them claim to be special forces, and theYanks like to make out like every fether is special forces even more than most!

Rangers - Not special forces
USMC FR - Not special forces
101st Airborne - Not special forces

Delta/Green berets are, but its the army, and we all know what they are like. Delta spend more time training than fighting, Its the SEALs get the lions share of the actual op's.

Maybe were old fashioned over here, but I always thought there was only one genuine special force in the US, and that's the fine men of the SEAL's, even if they did let Jessie Ventura in.

Kilkrazy wrote:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-16714344
Nine pirates shot.

Wait, I didn't think SOPA was enacted yet?

Oh, not that kind of pirate.

I read that they're the same team that dropped Bin Laden as well. They're doing some fine work!

I wouldn't feth with a Navy SEAL. Or an actual seal, while we're on the subject.

kronk wrote:Or an actual seal, while we're on the subject.

I tried to pet one, and it hissed at me.

They have teeth like a fething tiger.

kronk wrote:I wouldn't feth with a Navy SEAL. Or an actual seal, while we're on the subject.

damn, if those aren't some badass aquatic mammals.

Propoganda...

What somebody here something?

Chowderhead wrote:

kronk wrote:Or an actual seal, while we're on the subject.

I tried to pet one, and it hissed at me.

They have teeth like a fething tiger.

I reckon I could take this fether.

.

Wyrmalla wrote:Propoganda...

What somebody here something?

no, we didn't anythi- OH MY LAWD!

propoganda will always be there.

mattyrm wrote:

Chowderhead wrote:

kronk wrote:Or an actual seal, while we're on the subject.

I tried to pet one, and it hissed at me.

They have teeth like a fething tiger.

I reckon I could take this fether.

Probably not underwater.

Unless you could get him to swallow your todger, which would probably choke him. While he was distracted you could then grab a passing killer whale and swing it at him.

mattyrm wrote:

olympia wrote:The U.S. special forces of different branches are renowned for their rivalary. We can now conclude with certainty that SEALs are the top of the heap.

That's long been known over here! Thing is, soldiers like to bs and all of them claim to be special forces, and theYanks like to make out like every fether is special forces even more than most!

Rangers - Not special forces
USMC FR - Not special forces
101st Airborne - Not special forces

Delta/Green berets are, but its the army, and we all know what they are like. Delta spend more time training than fighting, Its the SEALs get the lions share of the actual op's.

Maybe were old fashioned over here, but I always thought there was only one genuine special force in the US, and that's the fine men of the SEAL's, even if they did let Jessie Ventura in.

This post is categorically incorrect. The only Special Forces in the United States military are the Green Berets. Delta, USMC Force Recon, 75th Ranger Regiment, 160th SOAR, USAF 24th STT (CCT and Pararescue), etc. are all Special Operations units. Airborne are not and will never be spec ops though, they are (literally) the red-headed stepchild of the US Army (and totally wish they were Rusian VDV).

The reason why the SEALs seem so superior to Delta (being the only other known "Tier 1" Spec Ops unit) is because the Navy is much more vocal about whats going on with the unit than the Army is with Delta. It seems to me the Army has taken the intelligent approach, as you don't want every Tom, Dick, and Jane knowing whats up with a secretive unit that conducts secret operations... worth mentioning that the government doesn't acknowledge the existence of Delta but it does the SEALs... Also, go figure, the current commander of JSOC (the organization which has effective operational control of both Delta and the SEALs) is a SEAL himself... gee, I bet that has nothing to do with the fact that they've been getting some of the high profile assignment (in fairness, the SEALs got bin Laden because it was in their AO).

mattyrm wrote:
Rangers - Not special forces
USMC FR - Not special forces
101st Airborne - Not special forces

IIRC, the Marines either do not have actual special forces, or if they do, then it is actually the recon guys. You did forget 82d Airborne... they are definitely NOT SF.


For us in the States, it's the Green Berets, SEALs, and Air Force PJs that comprise basically all of our SOCOM community. And for the record, SEAL Team 6 is the ONLY SOCOM unit in the US that is organized "specifically" for counter-terror and hostage situation operations. The others all have other missions. From what I understand, the Green Berets' typically go behind enemy lines and F them up, but are also used as something of trainers, to help people defend themselves.

Nice work, they need to start making piracy a terminal job on the sea. Or do as the Russians did, "let them go" by putting them back in the dingy without any equipment (compass, fresh water, etc) about 200 miles from shore and wish them good luck.

The problem is that they often hide their victims so you wouldn't now where to send the forces to free them, but yeah they absolutely should especially as countries like the UK refuse to pay ransom money.

I pay my taxes, if I was kidnapped by pirates I expect the SAS to come and get me!

Howard A Treesong wrote:

I pay my taxes, if I was kidnapped by pirates I expect the SAS to come and get me!

I would get kidnapped by pirates, if I knew there was someone who led the SAS commandos exactly like "Mad Jack" Churchill

Seaward wrote:And apparently they've changed their name for at least the third time now.

I'm pretty sure they remain officially DEVGRU and that journalists prefer SEAL team 6 because it sounds sexier.

mattyrm wrote:

olympia wrote:The U.S. special forces of different branches are renowned for their rivalary. We can now conclude with certainty that SEALs are the top of the heap.

That's long been known over here! Thing is, soldiers like to bs and all of them claim to be special forces, and theYanks like to make out like every fether is special forces even more than most!

Rangers - Not special forces
USMC FR - Not special forces
101st Airborne - Not special forces

Delta/Green berets are, but its the army, and we all know what they are like. Delta spend more time training than fighting, Its the SEALs get the lions share of the actual op's.

Maybe were old fashioned over here, but I always thought there was only one genuine special force in the US, and that's the fine men of the SEAL's, even if they did let Jessie Ventura in.

I think it's universally well known that the offensive heavy hitters of the SpecOps community have always been the SEALs, the Navy being the offensive branch of the military it makes sense. I doubt many folks outside the military have even heard of the AFs Special Tactics Squadrons, and Delta is more known for it's purported role in Vietnam than more recent and quiet counter terrorism operations. Green Berets and PJs simply have a different role and no one cares about MEU(SOC)s because again few people know who they are and what they do.
SEALs on the other hand have been sexy steely eyed death dealers in fiction and reality for 50 years. So when one wants to claim to be a badass it's always Navy SEALs. No one goes to bar to pick up chicks and claims to be a PJ. Or as Steve Robinson says "Only 500 SEALs served in Vietnam, I've met all 20,000"

chaos0xomega wrote:
This post is categorically incorrect. The only Special Forces in the United States military are the Green Berets. Delta, USMC Force Recon, 75th Ranger Regiment, 160th SOAR, USAF 24th STT (CCT and Pararescue), etc. are all Special Operations units. Airborne are not and will never be spec ops though, they are (literally) the red-headed stepchild of the US Army (and totally wish they were Rusian VDV).

The reason why the SEALs seem so superior to Delta (being the only other known "Tier 1" Spec Ops unit) is because the Navy is much more vocal about whats going on with the unit than the Army is with Delta. It seems to me the Army has taken the intelligent approach, as you don't want every Tom, Dick, and Jane knowing whats up with a secretive unit that conducts secret operations... worth mentioning that the government doesn't acknowledge the existence of Delta but it does the SEALs... Also, go figure, the current commander of JSOC (the organization which has effective operational control of both Delta and the SEALs) is a SEAL himself... gee, I bet that has nothing to do with the fact that they've been getting some of the high profile assignment (in fairness, the SEALs got bin Laden because it was in their AO).

Did you read my post properly because it sounds like the overwhelming majority of what you wrote involved agreeing with me? How is it "categorically incorrect" when I specifically said that almost all of the aforementioned units were NOT special forces? I specifically stated that only three could be properly classed as SF. If you disagree on that small point, then fair enough. But its hardly categorically incorrect is it?

Are you in the army and you dont like giving the Navy lads any kudos?

Delta and the SEAL's are tier one counter-terrorism and special mission units. Top tier being the operative word. In the UK - top tier - SF.

And Delta's full name is 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta, so the clue is in the title right?



Automatically Appended Next Post:

AustonT wrote:
I think it's universally well known that the offensive heavy hitters of the SpecOps community have always been the SEALs, the Navy being the offensive branch of the military it makes sense

As I said, maybe I'm a little biased because I'm a navy man, but I never met anyone who claimed the SEALs were not SF. They aint army SF, but they are still SF. Same as our SBS isnt army (SAS)

Being told your in the army is offensive to folks like me!

I wonder if the SEALs where as disapointed as Eric Cartman when they saw what the pirates they where facing off against where dressed like.

'Not enough eye patches in here for my liking'


Seriously though, good job, still seems crazy there are that many other hostages being held there atm.

mattyrm wrote:

AustonT wrote:
I think it's universally well known that the offensive heavy hitters of the SpecOps community have always been the SEALs, the Navy being the offensive branch of the military it makes sense

As I said, maybe I'm a little biased because I'm a navy man, but I never met anyone who claimed the SEALs were not SF. They aint army SF, but they are still SF. Same as our SBS isnt army (SAS)

Being told your in the army is offensive to folks like me!

I don't think I was trying to make a case for them not being SF, I think I've grown to prefer the term Special Operations because in the military culture I was inculcated in only the Army actually CALLS them Special Forces, but that certainly doesn't cover all the SF guys. I agree that some groups affiliated with the SF community are not "Special Forces" all the time but may be called upon to perform a special operations mission like the Rangers or MEUs.

The Americans' ability to help cute blonde girls who're in a pickle is truly amazing.

Kilkrazy wrote:

mattyrm wrote:

Chowderhead wrote:

kronk wrote:Or an actual seal, while we're on the subject.

I tried to pet one, and it hissed at me.

They have teeth like a fething tiger.

I reckon I could take this fether.

Probably not underwater.

Unless you could get him to swallow your todger, which would probably choke him. While he was distracted you could then grab a passing killer whale and swing it at him.

Can I report this for inappropriate Mod action?

Or is this just KK's way of telling someone to "Go feth a seal in it's face"?

Either way, KK just became insanely awesome.

Or to put a pickle in a cute blonde girl.

mattyrm wrote:
I reckon I could take this fether.

Even you're no match for its Ice Beam.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

AustonT wrote: No one goes to bar to pick up chicks and claims to be a PJ. Or as Steve Robinson says "Only 500 SEALs served in Vietnam, I've met all 20,000"

God, I ran into a guy that did that. To his "credit", he carried the illusion all the way to starting a fight with a dude that was 5 inches taller, and at least 80 lbs heavier. The results were exceptionally lulzy.

AustonT wrote:

mattyrm wrote:

AustonT wrote:
I think it's universally well known that the offensive heavy hitters of the SpecOps community have always been the SEALs, the Navy being the offensive branch of the military it makes sense

As I said, maybe I'm a little biased because I'm a navy man, but I never met anyone who claimed the SEALs were not SF. They aint army SF, but they are still SF. Same as our SBS isnt army (SAS)

Being told your in the army is offensive to folks like me!

I don't think I was trying to make a case for them not being SF, I think I've grown to prefer the term Special Operations because in the military culture I was inculcated in only the Army actually CALLS them Special Forces, but that certainly doesn't cover all the SF guys. I agree that some groups affiliated with the SF community are not "Special Forces" all the time but may be called upon to perform a special operations mission like the Rangers or MEUs.

Yeah I wasn't talking to you mate.. bloke above who I quoted.

Ensis Ferrae wrote:IIRC, the Marines either do not have actual special forces, or if they do, then it is actually the recon guys.

Nope. The Marines stayed out of the official "special operations" fray longer than everybody else, but finally decided they wanted SOCOM dollars. MARSOC was stood up in 2005, if memory serves.

AustonT wrote:I'm pretty sure they remain officially DEVGRU and that journalists prefer SEAL team 6 because it sounds sexier.

Nah. DEVGRU was changed to something that nobody's managed to figure out yet right around the time that "Delta" changed Combat Applications Group to Army Compartmented Element.